Anger over vandalism of Stephen Lawrence plaque

The father of the murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence last night condemned vandals who daubed paint over the memorial stone placed at the scene of his son's death.

Mr Lawrence spoke out after the memorial plaque, located at the bus stop in Eltham, south east London, where his 18-year-old son was stabbed to death in April 1993, was found covered in white paint and chipped in an apparent attempt to erase Stephen's name. He said: "Of course we're upset about the damage but at the end of the day the memorial stone is a stone; my son was flesh and blood."

The attack on the stone comes just days before a major public inquiry is due to start into Stephen Lawrence's death.